Outrage as greedy eBay sellers flog hidden disability lanyard for PENNIES so people can avoid wearing face masks
GREEDY eBay sellers are flogging hidden disability lanyards online so that buyers can avoid wearing mask.
The sunflower lanyard was introduced to supermarkets in 2016 to help staff recognise those who may need extra help.
And since the beginning of lockdown the Hidden Disabilities scheme has began printing a “facemask exempt” card for those who are unable to wear a mask due a “physical or mental impairment.”
The mask exempt cards and lanyards are given out by charities or they can be purchased directly from the Hidden Disabilities website.
You do not need a doctor's note to purchase one, however, the scheme does list those who should be included in the scheme.
The lanyards and cards cost just 55p but the website strictly states, “This item is not for resale.”
However, there are currently 438 listings for the lanyards all over eBay with prices starting at 99p but with some sellers asking as much as £23 for the lanyard.
Some are even offering promotions on the product such as buy two get one free, or offering a lower price for multiple buys.
Meanwhile unofficial versions of the lanyard are also being sold to those wishing to avoid wearing a mask.
And the listings have sparked concerns among those using the lanyards that able-bodied people are buying them simply because they don’t want to wear a face covering.
One Twitter user wrote: “People who aren't medically exempt and simply don't want to wear a mask are getting the lanyards, that's the problem.
“It means those who genuinely can't are being doubted as a result and the point of the sunflower lanyard (invisible disabilities) is undermined.”
Who is exempt from wearing a face mask?
While masks are compulsory in most public settings, there are exceptions to those who need to wear them.
According to the official Government guidance, the following groups are not required to wear a face-covering while using public transport, in a shop, pub or restaurant:
- A child under the age of 11
- People who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- An employee of the transport operator, or in any other indoor setting where appropriate when they are acting in the course of their employment
- Where a mask causes the wearer severe distress
- An emergency responder such as a police officer, paramedic or fire officer acting in the course of their duty
- Someone speaking to or helping anyone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
- Someone acting to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to themselves or others - including if it would negatively impact on your ability to exercise or participate in a strenuous activity
Another agreed adding: “Unfortunately many people are abusing this Lanyard as a way to avoid wearing a mask.”
While a third wrote: “The abuse of it (the lanyard) by those who wish to push an anti-mask (and frankly, anti-science) agenda is worrying.”
A spokesperson for Hidden Disabilities told Fabulous Digital: "We are aware that sadly, some people are abusing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme by reselling our lanyards and other wearables at inflated prices for profit on sites such as Ebay and Amazon.
"We have registered with eBay as the verified retailer of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower product and owners of the trademark and copyright to restrict the reselling of them.
"They have image recognition software that identifies a copyrighted item and blocks it from being sold. We monitor the reselling of our own products regularly and sellers are reported to Ebay for violation of their policies.
"It is worth noting that there are a number of official resellers that are charities reselling our products on these sites. To be an official reseller you would have been issued with a certification badge, so please keep an eye out for these as they are legitimately doing so.
"Amazon have today assured us that they are going to be removing all the listings currently on their site.
"We continue to work with both Amazon and eBay to resolve the situation."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
In other news, this woman with endometriosis was abused in Tesco for wearing a sunflower lanyard.
And this mum praised Tesco for sending her the discreet sunflower lanyard.